Top 10 Billy Squier Songs

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As we look back at some of the best Billy Squier songs that were released in the 1980s, we keep asking ourselves what many other classic rock fans wondered. What happened? Billy Squier released one of the most outrageous kicking rock records of all time entitled Don’t Say No. The Led Zeppelin style sounds on the record were a huge hit. Just about every song on the record received tremendous airplay on the radio and especially on MTV. In 1981, Billy Squier was one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. It didn’t last long.

Billy Squier followed up the album Don’t Say No with the album Emotions in Motion in 1982. The album sold well, and had its fair share of hits but it did not compare musically to Don’t Say No. Two years later Billy Squier released the album Signs of Life. The record had a huge number one hit with the song “Rock Me Tonight.”

In 1986, Billy Squier released the album Enough is Enough. The album did not sell well and marked the point in time when Billy Squier would no longer dominate radio and MTV like he had in the early 1980’s. Over the next ten years, Billy Squier would release four more albums. His last studio album of new material was released in 1998 entitled Happy Blue.

Don’t Say No was such an incredible record it raised expectations among rock fans that Billy Squier would become a huge rock star for decades to come. He did continue to release good rock records for almost twenty years, but none of them came close to matching the great material that was released on Don’t Say No.

# 10 – Fast Times

We start out our Top 10 Billy Squier songs list with a song written for the soundtrack to the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The soundtrack was released in 1981. Listen to that funky guitar groove that opens up this killer song. There is a bit of a Jimmy Page riff that we can hear in this one. It sounds like something that could have been found on Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti album.

# 9 – She Goes Down

The great Billy Squier song “She Goes Down,” was issued on the Creatures of Habit LP. The album did not sell well. However, this was still one rocking song. The record was released in 1991. As the grunge sound was starting to dominate music with bands like Nirvana, the old school Billy Squier sound struggled to compete against it.

# 8 – Love Is The Hero

The great track “Love Is The Hero,” was released on the Enough is Enough album. The record was released in 1986. The song featured backup vocals by the legendary Freddie Mercury of the band Queen. Just think about that, Freddie Mercury is singing backup vocals on this recording. That’s quite a statement at how big Billy Squire was for a moment in time in classic rock history.

# 7 – In The Dark

As we continue our top 10 Billy Squier songs countdown, we now feature the first of four tracks from the Don’t Say No album to appear on this Billy Squier songs list. The great song “In The Dark,” was the album’s opening track. The song was also the second single released from the album. “In The Dark,” was a top 40 hit for Billy Squier peaking at the number 35 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 6 – Rock Me Tonight

“Rock Me Tonight,” may not have been Billy Squier’s most popular song of his career, but it was the man’s highest charting song he ever released. The song hit number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100. It hit number one on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart. The song was released on the album Signs of Life. The album was released in 1984. What most people probably do not realize is that the album was produced by Jim Steinman who was the songwriter behind all of those great Meat Loaf classic songs as well as so many other hits from artists ranging from Air Supply to Bonnie Tyler.

# 5 – The Big Beat

Don’t Say No was the album that made Billy Squier a household name. However, Don’t Say No was not Billy Squier’s first solo album. Squier had released one album before he released the Don’t Say No album. The great song “The Big Beat,” was released on the album The Tale Of The Tape. The album was issued in 1980

# 4 – Everybody Wants You

The song “Everybody Wants You,” was the first single released from the album Emotions in Motion. The album was the follow up to the iconic Don’t Say No album. The song hit number one on the US Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart. It was also a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 3 – Lonely Is The Night

This was one of our favorite tracks on the great Don’t Say No album. Maybe it’s because we are such big Led Zeppelin fans here. But hey that’s nobody’s fault but mine. All humor aside, this is why so many rock fans at the time fell in love with Billy Squire. The man released songs filled with such great classic rock style riffs which is what we all loved about rock and roll music in the 1970s.

# 2 – My Kinda Lover

Well the grammar may be a bit off, but the hook is to die for. “My Kinda Lover.” was the third single released from the album. The b side was an original Billy Squier Christmas song entitled “Christmas Is the Time to Say ‘I Love You.” Bet you didn’t know that

# 1 – The Stroke

It’s kind of tough to compose a top 10 Billy Squier songs list and not label “The Stroke,” as the number one choice. Easily one of the most popular songs of the 1980s. It has appeared in countless movies, television shows, video games, and commercials. One of those songs that has defined early 1980s culture. You hear a song like this and you know that you just can’t get it out of your head.